Latest science news in Biology & Nature
'Bigfoot' fails DNA test
Bigfoot remains as elusive as ever. One of the two samples of DNA said to prove the existence of the Bigfoot came from a human and the other was 96...
Extinction Most Likely For Rare Trees In Amazon Rainforest
Common tree species in the Amazon will survive even grim scenarios of deforestation and road-building, but rare trees could suffer extinction rates of up to 50 percent, predict scientists in...
Rapid bird flu test under development
LONDON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- British and other European researchers are developing a test for the rapid diagnosis of bird flu.
Protein found to control blood cell growth
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- U.S. medical scientists say they have discovered a specific protein signals stem cells in the bone marrow of mice to reproduce and remain...
Plastics suspect in lobster illness
This drooping lobster is missing limbs and painted with dark spots, the tell-tale signs of shell disease. The search for what causes a debilitating shell disease affecting lobsters from Long...
Robot with biological brain to help memories research
A multidisciplinary team at the University of Reading has developed a robot which is controlled by a biological brain formed from cultured neurons. This cutting edge research is the first...
White Americans No Longer Majority By 2042
Census Bureau predicts white population will no longer be majority in United States sooner than expected.
Octopuses have six "arms" and two "legs": study
BERLIN (Reuters) - Octopuses' eight tentacles divide up into six "arms" and two "legs", a study published by a chain of commercial aquariums said on Thursday.
Curtain Call For Hollywood's Orangutans
The career path of orangutans as entertainers seems to have reached a dead end following a recent transfer of the remaining orangutans in the entertainment industry from Hollywood. But the...
Alison Benjamin: Why the decline in bee numbers matters
Alison Benjamin: The decline of bees won't just affect honey production – they're as important as the sun and rain in making crops grow
VIDEO: Elephants Patrol for Elephants
In Indonesia trained elephants are patrolling remote villages to keep wild elephants out—and out of harm's way.
Ag pesticides put salmon at risk
SEATTLE, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Agricultural pesticides are putting Canadian and U.S. Pacific salmon stocks at risk of extinction, U.S. fisheries experts warn.
Midge-hunting Scientists Tackle Spread Of Devastating Bluetongue Virus
Scientists are stepping up the battle against the devastating and economically damaging bluetongue virus. By combining ingenious ways to trap and monitor midges with cutting edge computer modeling and weather...
Species 'damaging waterways'
A "dirty dozen" of the non-native species most likely to harm native wildlife along rivers is revealed.
Birds released in secret location
White tailed sea eagles are to be released from a secret location in Fife in a bid to reintroduce the species to the east of Scotland.
Can tourism and wildlife ever mix?
EVEN when they tiptoe discreetly through the undergrowth, nature lovers and ecotourists may be having an unexpectedly damaging impact on wildlife. A study of protected Californian forest has shown that...
Sea Slug Chemical Blast Deters Lobster Predators
Sea hares emit a strong chemical brew, including hydrogen peroxide, that gives spiny lobsters anxiety and a loss of appetite, a new study found.
First reported video of cell's recognition of danger through its protein response
(PhysOrg.com) -- Cells are expected to respond defensively when an antigen lands on a cell membrane and prepares to cause mischief.
How DNA Repairs May Reshape The Genome
Researchers have shown how broken sections of chromosomes can recombine to change genomes and spawn new species. The scientists used X-rays to break yeast chromosomes, and then studied how the...
No cub for panda at National Zoo this year
The U.S. National Zoo says panda mother Mei Xiang will not give birth to a cub this year after all.
Intel Unveils Extensible Host Controller Interface Draft Specification to Support USB 3.0 Architecture
Intel Corporation today announced the availability of the Extensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) draft specification revision 0.9 in support of the USB 3.0 architecture, also known as SuperSpeed USB. The...
Keeping an eye on the surroundings
Water is no passive spectator of biological processes; it is an active participant. Protein folding is thus a self-organized process in which the actions of the solvent play a key...
Cocaine-induced synaptic plasticity linked to persistent addictive behaviors
The persistent nature of addiction is its most devastating feature. Understanding the mechanism underlying this phenomenon is the key for designing efficient therapy. Two separate studies published by Cell Press...
Ancient sheep help pinpoint brain timing mechanisms linked to Seasonal Affective Disorder
(PhysOrg.com) -- New research by Aberdeen scientists suggests that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) relates to an ancient timing mechanism in the brain dating back millions of years.
Using live fish, new tool a sentinel for environmental contamination
Researchers have harnessed the sensitivity of days-old fish embryos to create a tool capable of detecting a range of harmful chemicals.
Smells like bees' spirit
Bumblebees choose whether to search for food according to how stocked their nests are, say scientists from Queen Mary, University of London.
Pit bull cloning called irresponsible
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- The Humane Society of the United States and the American Anti-Vivisection Society are calling pit bull cloning wasteful and irresponsible.
Avian botulism suspected in Winnipeg duck deaths
Avian botulism may be killing ducks on the rivers in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba Conservation officials say.